Using Dominos as dry connectors

[pgopinath]

I am building an AV cabinet that will be approximately 63 inches long (left to right), 21 inches deep (front to back) and 17 inches high. All sides will be 1.5 inches thick (double thickness of 3/4 Baltic birch). The length of the cabinet will be divided into three 19 inch wide bays for rack mount devices. The bays will be separated by 1.5 inch vertical divider panels.The cabinet sides and the vertical dividers will be connected to the bottom panel using appropriate size dominoes.

I would like to make the top panel removable to give easy access to the back panels of the AV devices. I was thinking of dry clamping the top panel onto the top of the cabinet and then cutting domino mortises through the top outside surface through the top panel and into each of the vertical panels (sides and vertical dividers). I would then remove the top panel and glue the dominoes into the mortises in the vertical panels. Once the glue dried i could lay the top panel back in place registered by the protruding dominoes and flush trim any dominoes protruding through the top.

Will this work? Will the dominoes expand and contract with weather? Does anyone make dominoes in specific hardwoods, something dark to give contrast with the baltic birch?

Looking for insights.

Edited: I have read the threads on Domidrawers and the use of contrasting tenons. In those cases the tenons were completely glued in while i am contemplating leaving the exposed portion of the domino dry

Prabha

 

[Holmz]

Lamello ClampX... and if a shop is doing any cuts or CNC, then they may be able to do those cuts for you.

 

[GarryMartin]

Not sure how appropriate Clamex would be as even discounting purchasing a new tool, you'd need to have clearance around all the AV gear to get your hand and the hex key in to disconnect them.

The new Domino connectors might be applicable depending on whether you have the DF 700 [member=966]pgopinath[/member], but again you'd need to be able to get a tool in to work the disconnect. Would it not be more appropriate to hinge the "top" like the furniture from the era of turntables/decks and use metal pegs for accurate re-positioning?

 

[Bohdan]

With some careful measurements it is quite possible to have the dominos glued into the vertical and inserted loose into the bottom of the top panel. There is no need to have the dominos visible unless that it the look that you are after.

Only the two front (or rear) dominos would need to be fitted into narrow slots for location purposes, the rest can go into wide slots.

If you want visible dominos they are easy to make in any timber of your choise and would look better that the commercial ones which have the ribs for glue relief.

 

[Holmz]

Not sure how appropriate Clamex would be as even discounting purchasing a new tool, you'd need to have clearance around all the AV gear to get your hand and the hex key in to disconnect them.

The new Domino connectors might be applicable depending on whether you have the DF 700 [member=966]pgopinath[/member], but again you'd need to be able to get a tool in to work the disconnect. Would it not be more appropriate to hinge the "top" like the furniture from the era of turntables/decks and use metal pegs for accurate re-positioning?

I do not think I would recommend a new tool (either one), but the hinge idea is good. Whether that is held down with dominoes, dowels, or screws... There are threaded inserts that can bond into composites, and something like a keen sert or helicoil would allow for a machine screw to be used.

On the top, there could be a machined countersunk 'insert'. The inserts in the lamello Invis would be similar.

Or just hinged and let the top flop, as Gravity is pretty dependable.

 

[pgopinath]

Thanks for the replies. A new tool is out of the equation for financial reasons. So the Lamello is not a viable option.

The cabinet will hold approximately 250 lbs of gear and will be mounted to steel L brackets bolted to wall studs and protruding through the sheet rock. So access from the rear will not be possible. Likewise each of the equipment bays will have rack mount rails and rack mounted gear mounted so access from the front will also not be possible. That would rule out any connector that required tool access from inside the cabinet.

I will look into making my own tenons from walnut and report back on progress.

thanks
Prabha

 

[Bohdan]

You may want to have a look at this other option
http://www.middleatlantic.com/products/racks-enclosures/slide-out-racks.aspx